Category Archives: 2006

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Redemption

Tsotsi (2006)

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From NetFlix:

This Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language film shows that no soul is too far gone from being reformed. After shooting a woman and driving off in her car, Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae), a ruthless thug, is surprised to discover he isn’t alone, kept company by a crying infant in the backseat. He grudgingly takes the child home, and through his efforts to care for the tyke, Tsotsi slowly rediscovers his compassion, self-respect and capacity to love.

I resisted seeing this film (recommended in “1001 Films To See Before You Die”) for a long time thinking it would be really dreary. But once I started the film I was hooked. Actually I was rooting for Tsotsi. Maybe I’m just a sucker for redemption films. At the very least I am grateful I live in the U.S.A. because life is a bit difficult in South Africa. Not for children.

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Comedy, Feel Good Not For Children, Gay theme

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Convinced little Olive (Abigail Breslin) is beauty queen material, parents Richard (Greg Kinnear) and Sheryl (Toni Collette) and the rest of the family embark on a life-altering road trip to a pageant in this madcap comedy. Struggling motivational speaker Richard pushes Olive to win, while her silent brother (Paul Dano), depressed uncle (Steve Carell) and nursing-home reject grandpa (Alan Arkin, in an Oscar-winning role) add their own quirks to the mix.

I did not need “1001 Films To See Before You Die” to tell me this is a “must see” film. The ensemble acting is well-done. The family bus all by itself is a real hoot. Little Olive is just plain cute and her final beauty queen performance is an unexpected riot. But with all its sexual references, it is not for small children.

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Detective, Violent

The Departed (2006)

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From NetFlix:

To take down South Boston’s Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise in Martin Scorsese’s multiple Oscar-winning crime thriller, including Best Director and Best Picture. While an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) curries favor with the mob kingpin (Jack Nicholson), a career criminal (Matt Damon) rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there’s a mole among them.

“1001 Films to See Before You Die” praises Scorsese for successfully adapting a successful Hong Kong action film “Infernal Affairs” and its two sequels to the Boston Irish-American culture. For this film Mark Wahlberg was nominated for “best actor in supporting role”. Needless to say it is violent and not for children.

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Spanish, Violent

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

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From NetFlix:

In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) — a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army — and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-winning tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

In “1001 Films to See Before You Die”, this film is recommended as probably the best film by Mexican directory Guillermo del Toro. The film has a split personality: half is the suffering and torture due to Ofilia’s stepfather who is a bitter and twisted member of General Franco’s fascist army; the other half is the fantasy world to which Ofilia escapes in order to get away from the ugly realities. So, yes, there is violence and some torture. And also there are some memorable fantastic special effects scenes. Not for children.

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Biographical, Not Feel Good

The Queen (2006)

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From NetFlix:

After Princess Diana’s shocking death, Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren, in an Oscar-winning role) and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) engage in intimate talks as Britain demands the princess be memorialized in a manner beyond standard protocol. This Oscar-nominated drama for Best Picture goes behind the scenes as the queen and prime minister try to manage Diana’s death on a personal level while also dealing with a public calling for royal treatment for their beloved princess.

Helen Mirren shows her versatility in a role quite different from her other roles. She IS the film. I couldn’t take my eyes off her perfect performance. You might not even care about British royalty and the whole Princess Diana scandal, but this film might start you questioning the royal motives regarding Diana. By the end of the film I felt quite unsympathetic towards the royal family but very enthusiastic about Mirren’s performance. This is a talking heads film, not an action film. It was recommended as one of the “1001 Films To See Before You Die.” (Such a cheery thought !)

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Gay theme, Unusual, Vulgar

Borat (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Fans of the HBO comedy series “Da Ali G Show” will be delighted to join one of their favorite characters — the Kazakhstani reporter Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen, in a Golden Globe-winning role) — as he travels to America to report on the “greatest country in the world.” Camera in tow, the boorish journalist sets off on his cross-country road trip, but his original purpose is soon subsumed by a much greater quest — finding and marrying actress Pamela Anderson.

If you think Mel Brooks (think “Blazing Saddles”) was politically incorrect, wait until you watch “Borat” which has the dubious distinction of offending the entire planet. Let’s call this film “acceptable trash” although I admit it is really funny in some parts. At other times I could hardly believe what I was seeing in a film. Today fims show extreme violence as comedy (“Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels”) as well as explicit sex as comedy (“Choke”). So bad taste as comedy has become part of our culture. For another discussion see the Wikipedia Borat article.

Recall that in each scene there is a camera somewhere. Consider, therefore, the “healing” fundamentalist revival service. What was in the minds of the congregation during the filming ? Was this whole thing just a put-on ?

In any case, you are warned that you too might be offended by this film which, believe it or not, is one of the “1001 Films To See Before You Die”.